Controlling mechanism



fizz/627,702": Qrmur ZMP/Z/ 6725 06.

59 AM 4' W.

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR W. PHILLIPS, OFGLABEMONT, NEW -HA1PSH IRE, ASSIGNOBJ TO.8ULI:IVAN

MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACEUSEITS CONTROLLINGApplication tiled. February 25, 1928. Serial No. 257,022.

This invention relates to controlling mechanisms, and more particularlyto controlling mechanisms for internal combustion engines employed inthe driving of air compressors or other pumping devices. It providesmeans whereby the engine throttle is operated to adjust properly thesupply of fuel to the engine as the load of the engine increases andfurther to adjust the supply of fuel in ac- 1o cordance with theunloading and loading of the compressor.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of animproved controlling mechanism for a prime mover which drives 16 acompressor. Another object of the invention is to provide improvedcontrolling means for a fluid pumping system which includes an internalcombustion engine. A further objeet of the invention is to provide anautomatic control to increase the supply of fuel to the engine as theload on the engine increases and to vary the supply of fuel to theengine in accordance with the loading and unloading of the compressor.Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which for purposes of illustration oneembodiment of the invention is shown,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a compressor mechanism in which anillustrative form of the invention has been incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the intake connectionsfor an internal combustion engine, showing one illustrative form ofcontrolling mechanism with parts in central vertical sections.

In the drawings a portable compressor outfit is shown as including amotor 2, an air compressor 3 and a receiver 5 connected to thecompressor by a pressure discharge line 4. The compressor is. providedwith appropriate unloading mechanism 6 of that type .i i hich fluidsupply thereto eflects unloading. A pilot valve 7 controls the flow offluid from the receiver 5 or pressure discharge line 4 into the line 8,and functions in a well known manner to permit such flow when apredetermined maximum pressure has been reached in the receiver 5 orpressure discharge line 4. Upon the lowering to a predetermined minimumof the receiver or discharge line pressure, the ilot valve vents theline 8 to atmosphere. onnections 9 lead from the line 8 to the unloadingmechanism 6. A throttle controlling cylinder 10 is connected by piping11 to the connections 9 and opterates in a manner later more fullybrought O11 The intake manifold 12 of the compressor driving engine 2 isprovided with a butterfly valve which is operated by a lever 14. As seenIn Fig. 2, the limiting positions (maximum open, and closed) of thebutterfly valve are determined by set screws 15. Supported on the frameof the outfit, herein in vertical position beneath one arm of the lever14,- is a throttle controlling cylinder 17 which 1s connected by a line39 to the receiver. The piston 16 in cylinder 17 is connected by a link18 to the left end of the lever 14 which controls the butterfly valve13. A strong spring 18 surrounds the piston rod and presses aga nst thetop of the piston 16 and also agamst the upper end of the cylinder. Aspring of such strength as is required by the pressure conditions in thereceiver and the piston area is selected and adjustment is madepracticable by providing an adjustable cap 19 to adjust the springtension and thus change the relation of receiver pressure to fuelsupply. It should be noted that cap 19 is not a tight fit for the pistonrod, and therefore no pressure above atmospheric opposes 8 upwardmovement of the piston 16.

Parallel to cylinder 17 and beneath the other arm of lever 14 liescylinder 10, also supported on the frame of the outfit. Cylinder 10 isprovided with a cooperating piston 20 which is connected by a link 21with the other end of the butterfly valve lever 14. A light spring 22 isemployed to return the piston 20 toward the lower end of the cylinder10. I I

The manner in which the illustrative embodiment of the inventionoperates is easily understood from the above description. The portablecompressor is generally started with the receiver tank 5 vented toatmosphere.

Upon startin the receiver vent is closed and pressure gra ually buildsup in the rece1ver 5. There is, of course, a corresponding building u ofpressure within the cylinder 17 under. t e piston 16. In its bottompositio'n the throttle is nearly closed so that the engine will not racewhen running nearly unloaded. The piston 16 is gradually forced upagainst the action of the strong spring 18"- as receiver pressure buildsup. Accordingly, the fuel supply is increased as the pressure in thereceiver tank increases, thereby preventing stalling and maintainingspeed. 1 If the compressor were'started under load, the controllingmechanism would also operate efledt'vely. In such case the plston 16would causlxthe butterfly valve 13 to supply an increased ount of fuelto the motor 2 so as to operate the pump or. compressor against thepressure in the receiver tank 5.

At any time that the pressure in the receiver tank 5 is high enough tocause unloading' of the compressor, fluid will be supplied to the line 8an the mechanism 6 will unload the compresso Fluid is concurrentlysupplied to the cylinder 10 which is of considerably larger diameterthan the cylinder 17. Accordingly, the larger piston 20 overcomes theforce of the smaller piston 16 and the P 0 butterfly valve 13 is movedtowards closed position to slow down the engine to an idling speed. Itis therefore evident that should the compressor start with suflicientfluid pressure in the receiver tank 5 to unload the com- 36 pressor, thebutterfly valve 13 will be held at l w sp d position by the piston 20.If duriiig /tlggbperation of the compressor, the compress is unloaded,the butterfly valve 1 3 is immediately turned to reduced speed position.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodimentwhich my invention may take in practice, it will be understood that thisform is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may bemodified and embodied in various other forms without departing from itsspirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by I Letters Patent is: I i60 1. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system comprising acompressor and an internal combustion driving engine therefor, incombination, a valve controlling the fuel supply to said engine, meansoperative on fluid supply thereto'to unload a compressor and operativeon release of fluid so supplied to perm1t reloading, pressure fluidoperated means for moving said fuel supply controllin valve, means forcontrolling fluid supply an exhaust to said latter fluid operated meansand to said means for unloading the compressor, and means responsive tothe discharge pressure 0f the compressor for controlling said fuelsupply controlling valve.

2. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system having a drivinginotor, a.

, to slow down said motor notwithstanding the action of the receiverpressure within said servo motor. 1

3. In a pumping mechanism the combination of a pump, a driving motortherefor, means adjustable to control the power of said motor, andcontrolling means for said last mentioned means including meansresponsive to the pressure against which the pump works and meansexercising a superior controlling function when said pressure reaches apredetermined point.

4. In a pumping mechanism, the combination of a pump, a driving motortherefor, means adjustable to control the power of said motor, andcontrolling means for said last mentioned means including a plurality ofcontrolling devices each actuated by the medium pumped, one exercising agraduated control varying with the pressure against which the pumpworks, another exercising its control only when a predetermined pressureis reached.

5. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system comprising acompressor and an internal combustion driving engine therefor, incombination, a throttle controlling the fuel supply to said engine, apressure fluid operated unloading device for said compressor, and a pairof pressure responsive devices operatively connected to said fuel suplythrottle, one of said devices being subected to compressor dischargepressure and the other being subjected to the pressure fluid supplied tosaid unloading device.

6. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system comprising acompressor and an internal combustion driving engine therefor, incombination, means operative to automatically unload said compressorwhen the dischargepressure reaches a predetermined point, a controllingelement having an area subjected to compressor discharge pressure fornormally controlling movement of said element, a throttle forcontrolling the supply of fuel to said engine operatively connected 1 tosaid element to be moved thereby, a spring cooperating with said elementto oppose the action of such pressure, and superior controlling meansfor moving said element to close said throttle when said unloading meansunloads said compressor.

7. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system comprising acompressor and a prime mover for driving the same, in

combination, means for controlling the supply of actuating medium tosaid prime movcrrmover, 'a pressure fluid operated unloadlng device forsaid compressor, and regulating means operatively connected to saidactuating medium controlling means, said regulating means having a pairof surfaces, one of said surfaces being subjected to compressordischarge pressure and the other being subjected to the pressure fluidsupplied to said unloading device.

8. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system comprising a cmpressor and an internal combustion drivingxngine therefor, incombination, a throttle controlling the fuel supply to said engine,pressure fluid operated unloading means for said compressor, a pilotvalve for automatically controlling the operation of said unloadingmeans in accordance with variations in compressor discharge pressure,and regulating means operatively connected to said throttle comprisingan element subjected to compressor discharge pressure, a springcooperating with said element to oppose the action of such pressure, andmeans supplied with pressure fluid simultaneously with the supply ofpressure fluid to said unloading means for moving said element to closesaid throttle.

9. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system comprising acompressor and an internal combustion driving engine therefor, incombination, a valve controlling the fuel supply to said engine, fluidpressure operated unloading means for said compressor, a fluid pressureresponsive device supplied with fluid at compressor discharge pressurefor moving said valve towards open position, said device comprising aspring opposing the said opening motion, a second fluid pressureresponsive device operatively connected to said valve for moving thesame towards closed position, and a pilot valve for supplying pressurefluid to said second mentioned device and to said unloading means whenthe compressor discharge pressure reaches a predetermined point.

10. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system comprising acompressor and a prime mover for driving the same, in combination, meansfor controlling the supply of actuating medium to said prime mover,regulating means operatively connected to said actuating mediumcontrolling means and adapted to increase the supply of such medium inaccordance with increase in compressor discharge pressure, a pilot valveresponsive to compressor discharge pressure, and means controlledthereby for unloading said compressor and for taking control of saidactuating medium control away from said regulating means.

11. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system comprising acompressor and a prime mover for driving the same, in combination, athrottle controlling the prime pressure fluid operated unloading meansfor the compressor, and means for regulating the position of thethrottlecomprising opposed actuators, one of said actuators being sub ected tocompressor discharge pressure, and a pilot valve automaticallyresponsive to compressor discharge pressure to supply pressure fluid tosaid other actuator and to said unloading means.

12. In a controlling mechanism for a fluid compressing system having adriving motor and a compressor driven thereby, in combination, a valvefor controlling supply of actuating medium to said motor, and pressureresponsive means constituting the sole controlling means for said valveduring normal operation and controlling the same solely in accordancewith the compressor discharge pressure, increasing the valve opening asthe compressor discharge pressure rises.

13. In a controlling mechanism for a fluid compressing system having adriving motor and a compressor driven thereby, in combination, athrottle valve for controlling supply of actuating medium to said motor,a pres: sure responsive device connected to said throttle valve andadapted to increase the throttle opening as the pressure acting on saiddevice increases, said throttle valve being solely under the control ofsaid device during normal effective operation of the compressor, andmeans for continuously subjecting said device to compressor dischargepressure.

14. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system having a drivingmotor, a. compressor driven thereby and a receiver, in combination,means for controlling the power supply to said motor, a pressureresponsive device connected to said control means, yielding means actingagainst said pressure responsive device tending to move said powersupply control means to slow speed position, and means for subjectingsaid pressure ,responsive device to receiver pressure to act againstsaid yielding means and increase the power input to said motor as thereceiver pressure rises, said power control means being solely under thecontrol of said device during normal operation of the compressor.

15. In a compressor controlling mechanism, the combination with acompressor, and a driving motor therefor, of controlling means for themotor including a lever, a servo motor for actuating the same, saidservo motor comprising an actuating element attached to said lever,yielding means tending to hold said lever in slow speed position, andmeans subjected to compressor discharge pressure acting against saidyielding means for moving said actuating element and motor control meansaway from slow speed position in accordance with the increase incompressor discharge pressure, and superior control means adapted toshift said lever to slow acting on said device.-

16. In a controlling mechanism for a compressor system having a drivingmotor, a compressor driven thereby, an unloader for the compressor and areceiver, in combination, controlling means for the motor including apair of pressure fluid motors, each of said .pair of pressure fluidmotors comprising a cylinder and a iston, said pair of pressure fluidmotors havin their pistons opposed, one of said cylinders aving aconnection under receiver pressure and the other cylinder hav-' ing aconnection with the unloader, the sec- 0nd mentioned cylinder being oflarger cross section than the other cylinder.

17. In acontrolling mechanism for a compressor system comprlslng acompressor, and

a driving motor therefor, incombination,

means adjustable to control the power of said motor, a controllingdevice for said last mentioned means comprising an element subjected toand actuated by compressordischarge pressure for increasing the power ofsaid motor as the compressor discharge pressure rises, a spring opposingthe action of fluid pressure on said element, and a superior controllingdevice for rendering said first mentioned device ineffective to increasethe power of said motor.

18. In combination, in a fluid pumping system, a driving motor,,a pumpdriven thereby, a source of power medium for the motor, a controllingdevice for directly controlling the power medium supplied to the motorarranged between said motor and said source and movable to differentpositions to permit the flow of power medium to the motor at differentrates suited to different loads upon the motor, a pressure responsivedevice connected to said controlling device and arranged to move thelatter, as the pressure on said pressure responsive device increases,progressively to positions providing for higher and higher rates ofpower medium flow to said motor and to maintain said controlling devicecontinuously in each of the several positions to which it moves it, solong as the pressures to which said positions respectively correspondremain unchanged, and means for continuously subjecting said pressureresponsive device to the pressure against which said pump operates,whereby it is directly responsive in its movements to the pressureagainst which the pump operates.

19. In a controlling mechanism for a fluid compressing system having adriving motor and a compressor driven thereby, in combination, a valvefor controlling the supply of actuating medium to said motor, and meansincluding means graduatedly responsive to a wide range of compressordischarge pressures between a comparatively low pressure substantiallybelow the minimum desired normal discharge pressure and normal linepressure,

for governing the osition of said valve, cans

